Minutes - Parks and Recreation Commission - 05/08/2014

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Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood reviewed expenses associated with this recognition program would be minimal. The hard costs include the plaques (approximately $7.50 apiece), certificate paper (25-count for approximately $6.00) and folders (6 pack for approximately $3.50). Thus the total hard costs for stewardship recognition with a plaque would be approximately $8.00 and with a certificate would be approximately $1.00. Costs for these materials may come from the Environmental Services budget. Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood stated staff recommends approval of the EPB’s new stewardship program. Chair Olsen stated this is a great program and she is fully in favor of the program. Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood stated it would be beneficial if individual Park Commissioners worked with the projects. Motion by Commissioner Bennett, seconded by Commissioner Mobry, to approve the EPB’s new stewardship program as presented. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Olsen, Commissioners Bennett, Mobry, Barr, Chubb, Fyten, and Trappen. Voting No: None. Absent: 5.04 Consider Full Service Restroom for The Draw Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood presented in 2008 the city installed a concrete full service restroom at Emerald Pond Park. The facility was a dramatic improvement for park patrons over the plastic, portable toilet at the park previously. In the fall of 2013, another concrete restroom was added to Riverdale Park. These facilities have demonstrated to be relatively easy to clean, and have a utility room (separate from the public portion) where cleaning supplies and equipment can be stored. Over time, and as funding allows, staff recommends adding this type of facility to those developed parks that have municipal sewer and water available; as the maintenance cost of cleaning the restrooms is not much more than $48 monthly rental cost for the portable plastic units – and the quality of the experience is vastly improved for the public. Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood stated one of the frequently heard observations from the public at The Draw Summer Events Series is that “the city should have a nice restroom at the park instead of the outhouse”. This may be somewhat of an understatement, especially in light of the fact that 400 person concerts are evermore frequent and food is served at the events. In addition to the concerts and Farmers’ Market, The Draw is used by walkers throughout the day, PACT Charter School and Anoka Ramsey Athletic Association use the athletic fields in the spring, summer and into the fall. The amphitheater area also hosts the occasional wedding or special events like the second annual Bark for Life fundraiser this past April. Park and Recreation Commission/May 8, 2014 Page 5 of 8